What are some key highlights for UNDP Rwanda for the first quarter of 2025?

We kicked off 2025 with renewed momentum and a forward-looking drive, building on the solid gains UNDP Rwanda achieved in 2024. Early in the year, we focused on launching our new Country Programme Document 2025 - 2029 (CPD 2025-2029) through strategic engagements with partners and government officials to align ongoing and future collaboration.

During the quarter, we launched key initiatives aimed at driving inclusive growth in Rwanda. These included kickstarting the process of developing Rwanda’s 4th National Human Development Report (NHDR) together with the Ministry of Finance and Economic Planning (MINECOFIN); hosting a session with women staff from Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) on Equanomics aimed at mainstreaming gender concerns in public finance management; and conducting cost-benefit analyses based on success stories from pilot projects on hydroponics and biogas.

We also supported, participated in and contributed to key global events that were hosted in Kigali such as the Inclusive Fintech Forum held in February. We hosted the Governance and Peacebuilding Community of Practice event in Kigali in March, gathering UNDP governance experts from 35 African countries. 

The most exciting part of our work is always engaging with communities during field operations. During the quarter, I joined the Hon. Minister of Environment, Dr. Valentine Uwamaliya, and the Director General of REMA, Ms. Juliet Kabera, to visit the Muzo IDP Model Village in Gakenke District and the Eastern Province's clean energy and hydroponics innovations. Together with the privincial administration in Rwanda’s Eastern Provice, we also participated in environmental restoration activities in Nyagatare led by Equity Bank, highliting the key role of the private sector in advancing sustainable development.

What stood out most for you in the quarter?

One of the quarter’s key highlights was a field visit to the Muzo IDP Model Village in Gakenke District and communities in the Eastern Province, accompanied by the Hon. Minister of Environment and the Director General of REMA. The visit offered a valuable opportunity to observe the tangible impact of the Climate Proofing Imidugudu project, which is helping to relocate vulnerable households from climate-prone areas to safer, more resilient communities.

This experience underscored a critical lesson: early warning systems alone are not sufficient. Communities living in high-risk zones must be provided with safe and sustainable alternatives—not just asked to move. The initiative serves as a strong example of how integrated climate adaptation efforts can protect lives while promoting dignity and stability.

Why was this a key highlight for you?

The IDP Model Village stands out due to its integrated approach that links economic growth, poverty reduction, climate change adaptation, and environmental protection objectives. The project is all about giving people easier access to education, health, (by constructing the village closer to these services) and ways to respond and adapt to climate change. The initiative fits well with UNDP’s key policy of ‘leaving no one behind’. The project also creates job opportunities by promoting the use of local raw materials and creating jobs for people in the vicinity, while helping farmers grow their own food. 

The impact of the project stands out clearly – the sense of hope and pride among the project beneficiaries was clear to me during my visit, and I see so much alignment with UNDP’s plans for continuing to promote a greener, more inclusive Rwanda.

What are some of your key takeaways and lessons from UNDP work in the quarter? 

The IDP Model Village is an example of a homegrown solution that is driving scalable impact, and that UNDP has been a part of from inception. My key takeaway from the quarter is therefore that whatever seeds we can plant today, let us do so diligently with optimism for a better tomorrow. 

This is even more important as development resources are increasingly becoming constrained. Considering shifts in the development financing landscape, we have discovered renewed motivation to think beyond conventional approaches, embrace innovation, and stay agile. Every challenge presents an opportunity to reinvent and continue evolving. Ultimately, at UNDP Rwanda, we are driven by our goal: supporting the people of Rwanda by collaborating closely with the GOR.